"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word,
which means more to me than any other.
That word is ENGLAND." - Sir Winston Churchill

Saturday, October 31, 2015

ISIS supporter who threatened to behead a police officer when his stash of 'grotesque' execution videos was uncovered is jailed

Atiq Ahmed pleaded guilty to two counts of dissemination of a terrorist

The Old Bailey heard how his family had raised concerns in March

As he was being handcuffed by police, he said: 'I will kill you like an Israeli'

The Oldham man added: 'If I get the chance I will behead one of the police'

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Atiq Ahmed, 32, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, had pleaded guilty to two counts of dissemination of a terrorist

An Isis supporter threatened to behead a police officer when his stash of 'grotesque' execution videos was uncovered.

Atiq Ahmed, 32, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, had pleaded guilty to two counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication by posting links to disturbing IS propaganda videos, one of which was viewed on YouTube more than 37,000 times.

Ahead of his sentencing, where he was jailed for two-and-a-half years, the Old Bailey heard how his family had raised concerns in March this year, fearing he was a danger to society, citing his violent behaviour, mental health problems and solvent abuse.

They told police he would 'talk constantly' about Isis and watch their videos on his laptop and mobile phone.

When police were called to a domestic incident at his home in Copster Hill Road, Ahmed told them: 'Now you are here I am going to raise the black banner, the IS flag will fly. I will not let you live.'

As he was being handcuffed, he threatened one officer, saying: 'I will kill you like an Israeli.

If I get the chance I will behead one of the police.'

He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act, but when he was deemed fit for interview he admitted to police that a mobile phone, laptop and memory card storing a number of Isis videos were his.

Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim, said that he had downloaded them for 'research, study and understanding what is going on', the court heard.

While he supported Islamic State, he said that he did not plan to join them and wanted to live peacefully in the UK.

He stopped using Facebook because his posts kept being deleted as they did not like what he had to say.

Prosecutor Steven Gray told the court that he had posted links to two graphic videos on his Google+ account and discussed sharing violent jihadist videos with an Arabic man on Google Hangouts.

The first video which had been viewed 260 times showed a beheading, IS militants shooting a soldier, and the execution of hostages set to chanting in praise of Jihad.

The second video which also showed IS militants was viewed a total of 37,467 times on YouTube, the court heard.

Ahmed's collection of shocking videos of executions and beheadings included one featuring Jihadi John posing with the severed head of an American citizen threatening to bring violence to the streets of the United Stated and UK.

Mr Gray told the court that Ahmed had been convicted 18 times before for a total of 30 offences, which included assaulting a police constable.

In one racially aggravated outburst at an officer, he had said: 'You white mother f*****s, my boys will chop your heads off.'

In mitigation, Andrew Selby said the guilty pleas were made on the basis he was 'reckless' when he posted the links.

He argued that while there was no doubt the material was 'grotesque, brutal, graphic and vivid', it reflected real events in places around the world.

But after watching the videos, judge Michael Topolski QC said: 'Many of them are deeply disturbing, truly horrifying and bear no relation whatsoever to the true practices and principles of the ancient venerable religion.

'None of it can sensibly be said to serve any legitimate or useful purpose. To make any of it readily available is an indication that this defendant does indeed support Isis.'

Ahmed, who has been diagnosed with mental illness, became agitated and began to ramble incoherently in the dock so had to be removed from court before the judge concluded his sentencing remarks.